OT: Kentucky Derby
fuck Kentucky and their stupid horse race
This is the wrong day to talk about Kentucky.
You should buy a horse and name it that. Then enter it in the derby.
Yeah I like this... anyone got a barn and some oats I can borrow?
You can have the barn, but I'll need the oats back when you're done.
thats horse-shit!
watch the race in person. Has anyone been? Worth the trip?
Which is the better plan, taking the wife and kids or going with a buddy?
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I attended all 3 triple crown races and they were by far the worse experience I had. Triple crown potential made the crowds something the track was unprepared to handle. Many things went wrong that day to go over here.
I highly recommend going to the Travers Stakes in Saratoga Springs, NY. I assume you live in the NY area since you have been to the Belmont more than once. I have been to the Kentucky Derby 2x's, once for my bachelor party, and it is an awesome time probably my favorite event. However, Travers Stakes weekend in Saratoga Springs is definately right up there.
Great time! Take the wife with no kids. Go with a friend, it's a great time!
Thanks for the responses. Sounds like it's more of an adults only event.
Which is just what the doctor ordered.
I went a few years back. For the pure bucket list aspect of it, it most certainly is worth going. HOWEVA...it's a tough experience at the same time. We're talking 150,000+ people in a place than honestly is not at all set up for that many people even though it does year in and out. How crowded and claustrophopic Churchill Downs gets makes Michigan stadium on a Saturday feel like a high school football game.
It takes an hour to get through the gate to get in. When we left, out car service could get as close as 1.5 miles away to pick us up. Walking from where we cashed in our betting slips, out the gate and to our car service took almost 2 hours (most of that time was spent trying to get out of there). That's how crowded it is. If you're in the infield, there's a single tunnel about 8 people wide you leave and enter from. Imagine dozens of thousands of people trying to leave at the same time through that one tunnel. It's not fun.
Also, don't expect to actually get to watch the race if you're in the infield. If you get a good spot, you may be able to see the top of a horses head streak by briefly, but past that, you'll just be watching it on the big screen. Don't get me wrong, there is a make shift family area that somehow gets organized, and the atmosphere is still electric, but unless your paying hundreds, if not thousands, to sit in the bleachers, temper your expectations. In other words, I wouldn't suggest bringing your kids...ever.
I lived in Louisville for 7 years and have been to the Derby three times and to Oaks twice. Don't bring the kids. Don't buy tickets to the infield (it's mostly drunk college kids). Also, be prepared to wait a lot. The Derby race is near the end of the event, I think it's race 11 out of 13. Even then, it's about 50 minutes between each race. There will be lines everywhere for everything. Hit up Bardstown Rd in the Highlands after.
Oh and don't bother buying a mint julep. They are horrible.
I agree and disagree about the Julep. The ones at the Derby are goddamn awful. However, you need to get one for the souvenir glass and just to say you did, if nothing else.
If you are still young, and willing to get down n dirty in the inner ring, there's some fun to be had.
I got some crazy stories.
As for my horse pick this year.... Gotta go with Dortmund b/c it's my favorite German soccer team. Duh.
Unless it's Disneyland the better plan is always the buddy(ies).
Went to the Preakness a couple of years when I lived in Baltimore. It was a ton of fun. If you are anywhere near any of the three triple crown races, I'd recommend making the trip. I'm not a horse-racing fan either.
Edit: If the Derby is anything like the Preakness, which I've heard it is, it's best served with a buddy and a lot of beer (if you're into that sort of thing).
Once with my girlfriend (wife now) and once for my bachelor party. Both were a great time and both were very different experiences. I wouldn't trade either.
Carpe Diem isn't doing shit for the record.
Also El Kabeir might scratch due to injury so ... obviously no chance of winning.
Oh, I thought this was Jaylen Brown's new nickname.
At the racetrack in Arlington, and have been reading up on my best betting strategies. Besides a few standard bets, going to box trifecta with Dortmund, American Paroah, and Upstart. Upstart is my sleeper to win the whole thing.
Good Luck!
I'm planning on boxing Dortmund, Pharoah and Firing Line.
Firing Line was right on Pharoah the last couple races and charging at the end. With a little longer track it could have been close. Churchil is a little longer...
I might even toss some money at Dortmund and Firing Line to win it all.
I dunno. The horse looks pretty good. Maybe it doesn't need a jockey at all. Just dead weight.....literally.
relevant username
Bourbon and sundresses will win the day.
no way all three favorites finish in top three - take a long shot like Danzig in your exotics.
Not sure why International Star is not getting much love by the bettors and handicappers. He's my pick, along with Materiality. Dortmund will round out my box trifecta.
looking to hit big on an exacta with one of the two big favorites.
There are two ways to enter the infield, not one/single tunnel. You can enter the infield from the main entrance if you are not carrying chairs in that need to be checked. The other entrance tunnel is near the final turn side of the track that most people enter from. The first entrance tunnel I mentioned by clubhouse/grandstand is how you get to the paddock area.
Last year I took a shuttle bus service from downtown and that worked very well. The shuttle bus dropped off at the track next to the clubhouse. Much better than parking by football stadium and walking or paying additional fee for shuttle to track.
Watching race from infield is difficult because you can't see finish line with tents in the way. However last year they put up a giant scoreboard (4k). I did not need binoculars to view horse/odds on the screens. Blows Pimlico and Belmont away if you follow the odds or want to see the payouts.
I'm sorry, but horse racing is cruel and I wish it were outlawed. I know the horses are taken care of, but cannot believe they enjoy being slaves to humanity.
That's cool, that's your opinion, and besides choice wording and opinions about what horses may and may not enjoy that's extremely debatable, your opinion isn't an unreasonable one. Horse racing doesn't appeal to a lot of people for plenty of reasons. I, on the other hand, love watching horse racing and honestly feel no ethical guilt about it, no matter how hard I've tried to understand disenting opinions on it.
I understand your opinion.
I've been around the gam for a while. I can say I truly believe these magnificent animals LIVE to run. They love it and even cherish it. EVery one of them, sure, probably not, but the majority.
Just my opinion. You are welcome to yours. I love the game, and wish more people could see it differently.
That way no animal on this planet will be impacted by you.
I know this is slightly off topic, but I only bet horseracing on TwinSpires.com. Never had a single complaint about them, they're well-known and I know I can trust them to payout accurately and give me every betting option I could ever want.
I wish Muskegons track was still open.
I loved going there on deby day to bet
be careful betting exactas and trifectas on line - not sure about top bet but some sites don't pay out the odds they just payout 2X or 3X times the bet. If you have a long shot hit in the trifecta you can get screwed.
be careful betting exactas and trifectas on line - not sure about top bet but some sites don't pay out the odds they just payout 2X or 3X times the bet. If you have a long shot hit in the trifecta you can get screwed.
be careful betting exactas and trifectas on line - not sure about top bet but some sites don't pay out the odds they just payout 2X or 3X times the bet. If you have a long shot hit in the trifecta you can get screwed.
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I can vouch for TwinSpires.com. I've used it for 4 years and counting. It also helps it's trustability as it's the official betting site of Churchill Downs.